Research

The Australia Institute welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Scientific inquiry into hydraulic fracturing in the Northern Territory. Our submission focuses on Theme 7.7 of the Background and Issues Paper, economic impacts and also addresses other themes that the Institute has conducted research on.

The Wallarah 2 Coal Project (Project) proposes to produce 4 to 5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of thermal coal for export. The project is located on the Central Coast of NSW near Wyong. The proponent is Kores, a South Korean government owned corporation.The Australia Institute welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the April 2017 Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) consideration of the Project. We believe that all points raised in ou... Read More

The Australia Institute welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Select Committee on the Establishment of a National Integrity Commission. With recent polling conducted by the Australia Institute revealing 85% of Australians believe there is corruption in federal politics, and ongoing scandals showing evidence of this, it is time for a National Integrity Commission (federal ICAC) to be given the powers to systematically investigate co... Read More

As Australia and other countries shift their economies toward lower-carbon forms of energy and production, problems of displacement and transition for workers in carbon-intensive industries must be addressed as a top priority. The coal-fired electricity generation industry is on the front lines of this challenge.Centre for Future Work Director Jim Stanford was recently invited to give testimony to a Senate of Australia reference committee s... Read More

The Australia Institute provided advice to EDO NSW and the Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association on the possible economic effects of closing Wallaby Scrub Road, in the Hunter Valley, NSW. Rio Tinto proposes to close the road in order to expand the Mt Thorley-Warkworth coal mine.

The Australia Institute welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to Treasury’s Review of the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT). The review occurs at a time when Australia is set to become the world’s largest gas exporter, yet PRRT revenues are declining. Several major gas projects are unlikely to pay PRRT for decades, according to many analysts, including analysis commissioned by the industry lobby group, APPEA.The review aims to provide ad... Read More

The Australia Institute made a submission on the Wilpinjong Extension Project in March 2016. Our submission focussed on the economic assessment by Deloitte Access Economics in appendix M of the environmental impact statement (EIS).

Energy systems are changing whether we like it or not. Currently there is a lack of policy to ensure that this change is orderly and just. There are already examples of communities that are being affected by these changes and the current policy vacuum.The Australia Institute has published many reports and submissions related to coal mining and coal-fired power. In this submission we outline examples which demonstrate that the lack of policy to he... Read More

The Australia Institute made a submission on the Airly Mine Extension proposal in October 2014, highlighting our concerns with the economic assessment of the project conducted by Aigis Group. Our key points were:The economic assessment does not comply with relevant guidelines.Inappropriate consideration of wages as an economic benefit, overstating the value of the projectLack of transparency – even basic assumptions around coal prices are not dis... Read More

The Australia Institute is the country’s most influential progressive think tank. We conduct research on a broad range of economic, social and environmental issues in order to inform public debate and bring greater accountability to the democratic process.